Lahssan by Dryce: A New Line From Paris Reexamines the Trench

As a former psychology major, the man behind Lahssan, a new line of trench coats, is just as concerned with the inner life of his clothes as he is with their outer appearance. “I always flip my sweaters inside out,” says the Parisian designer, who goes by the name Dryce. “I’m interested in what goes on underneath, and I think that has something to do with my old studies.” For his first collection last fall he turned the notion of a fur-lined coat on its head, cutting away sections of a traditional trench to reveal silk layers of photo-printed fox fur, wolf, and ocelot. As a nod to Dryce’s studious past, each of the four deconstructed pieces was imbued with a personality trait of its very own, including one demure mid-length style called The Intellectual. His cerebral debut caught the attention of fashion visionary Rei Kawakubo, who snapped up an order for 10 Corso Como in Tokyo. (“When I found out that Rei Kawakubo loved the collection I was so excited I cried with joy for an hour,” Dryce says.)

This season, Dryce recognizes his more decadent inclinations, specifically a fascination with all that glitters. “I love gold, baroque, and over-the-top things,” he says. “So for me the challenge is always, How can I do less?” His quest for spring 2011 begins with the humble space blanket, that crinkled foil often worn by marathoners post-race, photographs of whom are printed on silk. With the runner’s most humble accessory as a starting point, it’s a coat that speaks to the inner athlete in all of us.